Elysium Parfum Cologne Roja Parfums 2017 Eau de Parfum

Tim is a tennis player. Even at school, his parents dressed him in brand-name clothes, and that was before helicopter parenting. White and yellow Nike sweaters - they could afford to wash them every day. Of course, they also bought him a year of high school in the States. Today he works there as a doctor, has two perfectly brought-up children who in turn look forward to a promising career, drives a retro 911 for the sake of his German roots, and - still plays tennis.
Tim smells like Elysium.
Clichés - no matter how bigoted - are great for embedding scent associations. When I first sprayed on Elysium, I immediately felt transported to this scenario. A well-groomed dentist, shaved, pleasant and unassuming, a guy like Hendrik Streeck, bends over the patient on the treatment table. His head covers the operating light, the pleasant whiff of his colognes is perceptible. He's not wearing a space-filler, a la Sauvage, nor a citrus hairstyle by Chanel. No, Elysium is fruity-woody understatement at its purest. The pyramid reads like the Beijing phone book, a complex bouquet of diverse notes that can be found in one form or another in many summer fragrances, arranged by Roja Dove like a schoolmaster into a harmonious whole. In the first half, the fruity notes dominate. If I had to settle on one dominant component, it would be grapefruit, but as I said, this potpourri is too complex to reduce to one theme. In the drydown, Elysium ramps up increasingly woody facets. Together with vetiver and a hint of leather, we get the much-cited pencil shavings, which once again underscores the fragrance's claim to luxury. However, the fruitiness is never completely lost in the drydown. Taken on its own, none of its facets is new or unique, but the fragrance is so coherently composed that one has the impression that one is standing in front of a total work of art that is more than the sum of its parts. Someone here knew exactly how they wanted the end result to smell before they got to grips with the components. Kudos for that.
Elysium is by no means a fragrance just for snobs. On the contrary, the DNA is incredibly versatile - from sports to office to evening wear - everything in it, although in their impression a level higher than designer fragrances with similar intentions. A good feeling of sovereign calm, which actually should not come from a perfume, but rather from yourself. But, if it helps? Still, Elysium never plays to the fore, always remaining more aura than statement. This is precisely why, despite its price, the fragrance appeals to a wide audience. Durability and sillage are equally perfectly suited to its appearance. Never too much is rarely too little.
Many reach for alternatives like Supernova or Supernova Cologne. Although the two come very close to the fragrance experience of the Roja, especially perceived at a distance, they do not capture its soul. They are more potent - yes - but the DUAs seem rougher, more effort, and also less complex, and are - extrapolated to 100ml - no real bargains.
That leaves Higher Energy. Dior picks up the theme sensitively and also moves close to that grapefruity DNA, but is too quick on the skin to be a real alternative.
I can't comment on differences from Elysium Edp, but if Supernova is a hermaphrodite of Parfum Colognes and Parfume, then this is probably just a denser, richer version, but then it certainly loses versatility.
Who takes about 3 greens for a Parföng in the hand, one is certainly well served with Elysium. Who this fragrance does not appeal, with which I would like to play tennis.